Promotional products (also called advertising specialties and identity products) are usually, but not always, imprinted with a company’s name, logo or message. They include useful or decorative articles of merchandise that are used in marketing, educational, and communication programs. Most anything that can be imprinted is imprinted.

There are four categories of promotional products:
• Imprinted products that are given away for free are called advertising specialties.
• Imprinted products that are sold at cost are sometimes called loss leaders. They can provide free advertising.
• Imprinted items that are given as an incentive for some action are known as premiums.
• Business gifts, awards, and commemoratives are also considered to be promotional products.

Product Uses

Promotional products have a variety of uses. They can be used alone or integrated with other media in a variety of interesting and effective ways. Popular uses include: Business gifts, employee relations, orientation programs, corporate communications, incentives (for work, safety programs, and purchasing), and trade show handouts. They excel at encouraging specific actions like responding to a survey, filling out a form, etc.

Promotional products marketing fits easily into any advertising budget. Promotional products complement and actually increase the effectiveness of other advertising media. They can be directed to selected audiences, which dramatically increases their effectiveness. And they remain in use for long periods of time to repeat the advertising message each time the product is used, without extra cost per exposure. People like to receive them. And since the items are useful and appealing, they are effective as incentives and motivators. Because there are so many products available, there is a lot of flexibility in planning a successful promotion.

How does the industry work?

Supplier factories import, manufacture, convert, imprint or otherwise produce or process products offered for sale only through promotional products distributors. There are more than 5,000 supplier companies in the promotional products industry. Most distributors act as independent agents and sell products, and sometimes promotional programs, to their clients. Some distributors represent factories or franchise distributorships. There are over 20,000 distributor firms in the industry.

Double River Advertising is a member of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and the Advertising Specialties Institute (ASI), and an independent promotional products distributor, with a variety of special arrangements with many factories and other promotional products companies that have been structured to provide great prices and great service.

Promotional products are the only medium that engages all five senses. Customers can see, hear, touch, taste and even smell them. Plus, promotional products are easily affordable—yet their impression is long-lasting and readily measurable. Make promotional products an integral part of your marketing mix and watch clients grab onto your message.

Promotional products will:

• Drive traffic to your tradeshow booth

• Improve response rates on direct mail campaigns

• Increase referrals

• Improve return business

• Improve employee morale

According to a recent study, 76.1% of respondents could recall the advertiser’s name on a promotional product that they had received in the past 12 months. In addition, 75.4% of respondents said they kept their promotional product because it was useful.

Our aim for this blog is to educate and excite our readers with the ins-and-outs of branding your business through strategic solutions using promotional products, also known as advertising specialties, printing, business documents, eCommerce, multimedia and social network marketing optimization.

Making the right connections is important to your business. Partner with Double River Advertising and ensure that you are making a good connection with your audience every time. Trust our extensive industry experience to effectively promote your company’s brand through: Promotional Products, Commercial Printing Services, Business Forms and Documents, eCommerce Solutions, Multimedia Services, Social Media Marketing Optimization, and Total Project Management.

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Monthly Marketing Planning Calendar

Use these holidays, events and sometimes quirky celebrations to plan distinctive marketing solutions:

Month of March - National Red Cross Month
March 1 - National Horse Protection Day
March 3 - I Want You To Be Happy Day
March 7 - Carnival
March 9 - Ash Wednesday
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day
March 17 - Absolutely Incredible Kids Day
March 20 - Great American Meatout
March 24 - Houdini Day
March 29 - Knights of Columbus Founders Day
March 30 - Doctors Day
Week of March 6 - Celebrate Your Name Week
Week of March 13 - Camp Fire USA Birthday Week
Week of March 20 - National Agriculture Week